Manufacturing method of structure and manufacturing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A manufacturing method of a structure includes providing a stack of a first material layer to be a part of the structure and a restricting member wherein the first material layer is provided on a surface of the structure in the process of formation, and a part of the restricting member is provided on a surface of the first material layer in reverse of the surface of the structure in the process of formation, providing a support member between the restricting member and the surface of the structure in the process of formation, removing the restricting member, and providing a second material layer to be a part of the structure on surfaces of the first material layer and the support member exposed by removing the restricting member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation, and claims the benefit, of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/240,009, presently pending and filed onFeb. 20, 2014, which is a national phase application of InternationalPatent Application No. PCT/JP2013/003759, filed on Jun. 17, 2013, andthis application claims the benefit of, and priority to, Japanese PatentApplications No. 2012-137917 filed Jun. 19, 2012, all of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a structureand a manufacturing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, modeling of an intricately-shaped three-dimensionalobject designed using a computer has become popular. There is a greatneed in the field of manufacturing of a wide variety of products inrelatively small quantities, for example, minute machine parts, andexhibition samples of houses and foods.

As an example of such a method for making a three-dimensional object, amethod is known in which a material to be a three-dimensional object isstacked in layers and a final structure is manufactured.

In PTL 1, after a layer of the shape of a part of a three-dimensionalobject is formed, a material to be a support is provided so as tosurround this layer, and patterning is performed. A support member(support) is thereby formed, and more material to be thethree-dimensional object is stacked on the layers of the support and thethree-dimensional object in the process of formation. Such a method isdisclosed.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature [PTL 1] US2001/0042598 SUMMARY OFINVENTION Technical Problem

However, in the method of PTL 1, the layer of the support and the layerof the three-dimensional object are made indifferent processes and ofdifferent materials, and therefore it is difficult to equalize thethickness of both layers in the process of formation. Since the amountof volume change due to the effect of temperature or the like variesdepending on the material, it is supposed that the layer thicknessdiffers between the layer to be the three-dimensional object and thelayer of the support. In an object formed by stacking layers havingdifferent thicknesses, distortion is caused by the difference in layerthickness described above, and there is fear that the desired finalshape of the three-dimensional object cannot be obtained.

Solution to Problem

The present invention provides a manufacturing method by which astructure formed with a high degree of shape accuracy can be obtained.

In an aspect of the present invention, a manufacturing method of astructure includes providing a stack of a first material layer to be apart of the structure and a restricting member wherein the firstmaterial layer is provided on a surface of the structure in the processof formation, a part of the restricting member is provided on a surfaceof the first material layer in reverse of the surface of the structurein the process of formation, and the other part is provided above thesurface of the structure in the process of formation, providing asupport member so as to fill between the restricting member and thesurface of the structure in the process of formation, removing therestricting member, and providing a second material layer to be a partof the structure on surfaces of the first material layer and the supportmember exposed by removing the restricting member.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to an example of the present invention, in the process ofstacking, the surface of a layer to be a structure and the surface of alayer of the support member can be made accurately coplanar compared tothe related art, and a structure formed with a high degree of shapeaccuracy can be obtained.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B are schematic diagrams showing an example of a stackingmodeling apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2A-2B are schematic diagrams showing an example of a stackingmodeling apparatus according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 includes sectional views schematically showing steps of each ofan example of the manufacturing method of a structure according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention and a manufacturing method ofa structure of a comparative embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the function of a stackingmodeling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-5F are schematic sectional views showing apart of the processof the manufacturing method of a structure in the stacking modelingapparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A-6F are schematic sectional views showing apart of the processof the manufacturing method of a structure in the stacking modelingapparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A-7E are schematic sectional views showing apart of the processof the manufacturing method of a structure in the stacking modelingapparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing an example of a stackingmodeling apparatus that is a manufacturing apparatus performing amanufacturing method of an object that is a three-dimensional structure,according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is aperspective view of the whole apparatus, and FIG. 1A is a sectional viewof the apparatus taken along line IA-IA of FIG. 1B perpendicularly tothe surface of an intermediate transfer member 1. The intermediatetransfer member 1 is conveyed by a conveyance mechanism 2. In FIGS. 1Aand 1B, patterning of a three-dimensional object is performed on theintermediate transfer member 1 disposed like a belt, the pattern isconveyed by the conveyance mechanism 2 to the position of a modelingtable 8, and is stacked into the three-dimensional object here. On theintermediate transfer member 1, UV ink 4 ejected from a liquid ejectionhead 3 is provided as a modeling pattern, and is conveyed to theposition of the modeling table 8. On the modeling table 8, a modelingpattern 4 as a structure in the process of formation is already disposedin a stacked state and a state supported by a support member 6. Thesupport member 6 is injected into a container 7 by a support fillingmechanism 10. After the stacking of layers of the modeling pattern iscompleted, the support member 6 can be removed by a support removingmechanism 15. The support removing mechanism 15 may be provided insidethe stacking modeling apparatus, or the stacked layers of modelingpattern and the support member 6 maybe taken out of the stackingmodeling apparatus, and the support member 6 may be removed using anexternal removing mechanism such as a chamber of solvent.

After a modeling pattern is formed on the surface of the intermediatetransfer member 1, the modeling pattern needs to be transferred.Therefore, the intermediate transfer member 1 can be made of a materialhaving a high releasability from the modeling material. If the materialof the intermediate transfer member 1 does not have releasability, forexample, if the modeling material is transferred like the offsetprinting, an object can be created. From the viewpoint of modelingaccuracy, all of the modeling material on the intermediate transfermember 1 can be transferred.

In order to stably perform transfer, the intermediate transfer member 1can have not a little elasticity. Materials suitable as the intermediatetransfer member 1 include silicone rubber and fluoro-rubber. Dependingon the modeling material used for patterning, sometimes repellingoccurs. Therefore, the intermediate transfer member 1 can besurface-treated according to the modeling material. The rubber hardnessdepends on the thickness of the elastic body. When the elastic body isthick, a hard rubber can be used. When the elastic body is thin, arelatively soft rubber can be used. When the elastic body is thick, arubber having a hardness of about 80 degrees is suitable. When theintermediate transfer member 1 is treated like a belt as in theapparatus in the figures, a relatively soft rubber having a rubberhardness of about 50 degrees to 20 degrees can be used in the form of athin film having a thickness of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

When a high accuracy is required, a non-elastic polytetrafluoroethylenesheet or a film coated with a submicron thickness of a mold releaseagent is suitable.

In the apparatus of FIGS. 1A and 1B, an ejection head having ejectionports that eject liquid is shown as a unit for forming a modelingpattern on the intermediate transfer member 1, and a method in which amodeling material is ejected from the ejection head onto a desiredposition is shown. However, the present invention is not limited tothis. Examples of other units include a digital recording apparatus suchas an electrophotographic device or a dispenser. Patterns can be formedusing a patterning method using a printing plate, such as offsetprinting or screen printing, while changing the printing plate used.Patterns obtained by a method such as photolithography or electrolyticplating can be used without any problem. The patterning unit does notnecessarily have to be located in the stacking modeling apparatus. Inthe present invention, patterns manufactured in an environment mostsuitable for each method and material can be used. That is, thepatterning unit can be selected based on the material of the object andthe modeling accuracy. In particular, an inkjet, which can performpatterning in a non-contact manner, is a very suitable patterning unit.

Layer-like modeling patterns are formed using UV ink 4 as a moldingmaterial that is a material for formation. UV ink is solidified byirradiating with ultraviolet, and a lightweight and relatively strongobject can be made. Besides UV ink, hot melt ink and thermoset ink arealso suitable. In this method, as described above, a patterningmechanism does not necessarily have to be disposed in the stackingapparatus, and layer-like patterns each layer of which is made using adifferent patterning mechanism in the same model according to therequired accuracy and the material can also be stacked. By disposingdifferent color materials in a layer-like pattern, a desired color oflayer can be obtained. The modeling material can be freely selectedwithin the range of application of the patterning unit used, and thepatterning unit can be selected according to the material that one wantsto use.

Here, FIGS. 6A to 6F are schematic sectional views for explaining a partof the manufacturing process in the manufacturing apparatus of astructure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and showthe same section as FIG. 1A. The object in the process of formationshown in FIGS. 6A to 6F is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B butis simplified. The patterned modeling material shown in FIG. 1A isconveyed by the conveyance mechanism 2 onto the modeling table 8, isaligned with the object in the process of formation by an alignment unit(not shown), and is brought into a state shown in FIG. 6A. Next, asshown in FIG. 6B, a stacking unit including a modeling container 7, amodeling table 8, a raising and lowering mechanism 9, a support fillingmechanism 10, and a support receiver 11 moves upward and comes intocontact with the ink pattern 4.

The transfer surface 501 that comes into contact with the ink pattern 4is a plane formed by a modeling pattern 502 that is a structure in theprocess of formation prepared by being previously transferred andstacked, and a support member 6 that is a solidified supportingmaterial. The transfer surface 501 is held at a position lower than theupper end of the modeling container 7 by one layer thickness by theraising and lowering mechanism 9. The transfer surface 501 is raiseduntil the upper end of the modeling container 7 comes into contact withthe intermediate transfer member 1. The UV ink is sandwiched between twoplanes: the surface of the intermediate transfer member 1 and thetransfer surface 501, and both the upper and lower surfaces of the UVink are planarized with a high degree of accuracy. Only the modelingmaterial is transferred at the time of stacking. Therefore, the shapecan be reproduced with a high degree of accuracy without the effect ofcontraction or deformation between different materials. The modelingmaterial is held in this state and is irradiated with ultraviolet lightfrom a UV lamp 12 (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B) disposed as a hardening andbonding unit. The UV ink is hardened with its surface planarized, isintegrated with the previous modeling pattern, and forms an expandedmodeling pattern 502. Hardening may be promoted by heat from the heater13.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, a supporting material 5 for the supportmember is injected into the modeling container 7 in a liquid state. Themodeling container 7 has a shape surrounding the modeling table 8 andrestricts the filling range of the supporting material. The supportingmaterial automatically flows into a space where the modeling pattern 502does not exist, and therefore there is no need for alignment and layerthickness restriction. It is only necessary to stop injection when thespace has been filled with the supporting material 5, just before thesupporting material 5 overflows.

The inner surface of the modeling container 7 needs to be prevented fromadhering to the liquid supporting material used, and is preferablycoated with polytetrafluoroethylene or the like.

As a material of the support member 6, a liquid material that issolidified by an external stimulus is suitable. In addition, a materialthat can be easily removed from the object is suitable. External stimuliinclude heat, light, electricity, magnetism, and vibration. Inparticular, heat is easy to utilize the reversibility of the material.When, for example, paraffin wax is used as a supporting material 6, itcan be injected at a temperature above the melting point and can besolidified by lowering the temperature below the melting point. If themelting point of the supporting material is set below the melting pointof the modeling material, the support can be easily removed by keepingthe whole above the melting point of the supporting material and belowthe melting point of the modeling material for a predetermined length oftime after the modeling is completed.

The support can be injected using a normal liquid moving method such aspressure injection or reduced-pressure suction. In order to preventdefective filling, it is effective to increase the flowability byheating with the heater 13 as a temperature control mechanism, or toassist filling by applying minute high-frequency vibration with anultrasonic vibrator or reducing the pressure.

The injection of the supporting material can be basically performedevery time a layer is stacked but sometimes need not be performed everytime a layer is stacked. When modeling a shape in which an overhang doesnot exist, a support need not be used if the strength at the middlestage of modeling is sufficient.

When modeling an object having an overhang, it is possible to stacklayers without injecting support when stacking layers of modelingmaterial without an overhang and to inject support for a plurality oflayers at a time when stacking layers having an overhang. In particular,when the layer thickness is small and the filling of the supportingmaterial is difficult, the supporting material can be injected atintervals.

As shown in FIG. 6D, the supporting material 5 is solidified, is therebyintegrated with the already formed support member, and forms an expandedsupport member 6.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6E, the intermediate transfer member 1 is peeledand removed from the upper surface 501. The support member 6 aftersolidification can hold the modeling pattern, and therefore even anisolated part forming an overhang can be fixed at a specified position.Therefore, the intermediate transfer member 1 can be peeled after thesupport is solidified.

The upper surface 501 of the modeling pattern exposed by peeling theintermediate transfer member 1 has been restricted by the surface of theintermediate transfer member 1. Therefore, the support member 6 and themodeling pattern 502 can form an even, and highly accurately flatsurface. This surface is moved by the raising and lowering mechanism 9to a position lower than the upper end of the modeling container 7 byone layer thickness as shown in FIG. 6F in order to prepare to receivethe next ink pattern in which ink is disposed in a cross-section of theobject. The peeling of the intermediate transfer member 1, the loweringof the stacking unit, and the lowering of the transfer surface from theupper end of the modeling container 7 may be performed in any order.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, after the transfer of an ink pattern is completed,the surface of the intermediate transfer member 1 is cleaned by thecleaner 12 as needed, and the intermediate transfer member 1 isrepeatedly used. However, the present invention is not limited to this.The intermediate transfer member 1 may be disposed after use, or may berecycled.

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams showing an example of a stackingmodeling apparatus that is a manufacturing apparatus performing amanufacturing method of an object that is a three-dimensional structure,according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is aperspective view of the whole apparatus, and FIG. 2A is a sectional viewof the apparatus taken along line IIA-IIA of FIG. 2B perpendicularly tothe surface of an intermediate transfer member 1.

The apparatus of FIG. 2 does not have therein a patterning mechanism forforming an object. The stacking unit including a modeling table 8supporting a support member 6 and an object, a raising and loweringmechanism 9, a modeling container 7, and an intermediate transfer member1 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The support fillingmechanism 10, the support receiver 11, and the roller 2 are also thesame as those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the modeling pattern 22 used can be made, forexample, by partially applying polyester resin onto the intermediatetransfer member 1 using a separate screen printing apparatus and thenhardening the polyester resin. As the intermediate transfer member 1,for example, a PET film thinly coated with silicone rubber can be used.

The intermediate transfer member 1 on which a patterned layer forforming an object is already provided is set in the apparatus. Althoughan intermediate transfer member 1 wound into a roll is shown in FIG. 2Aand 2B, sheet-like intermediate transfer members 1 stacked in order maybe supplied one by one from a sorter.

When, as described above, an apparatus that patterns a layer to be anobject is separate from a stacking apparatus, less wasteful operationcan be performed if the apparatuses differ in processing speed. Inaddition, when patterns are subjected to inspection by an inspectionapparatus for inspecting whether or not patterning is properlyperformed, after patterning and before stacking, the inspection can beperformed efficiently.

In the apparatus of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the layer-like modeling pattern 22on the intermediate transfer member 1 is solidified, and a mechanismthat applies adhesive to the modeling pattern 22 in order to performbonding at the time of stacking is disposed. The modeling pattern 22comes into contact with the adhesive application mechanism by theconveyance by the conveyance mechanism, and passes over it, and adhesiveis applied to the surface of the modeling pattern 22.

Although the type of adhesive used is not limited, adhesive can beselected according to the material of the object, based on indices suchas contraction ratio and adhesive strength. Although a roll coater isdepicted as an adhesive applicator, the present invention is not limitedto this, and a spray-type application mechanism such as a spray can alsobe used.

When a spray is used, adhesive adheres to the surface of theintermediate transfer member other than the object. After the stackingis completed, and at the stage of re-liquefying and removing thesupport, the adhesive is removed at the same time. However, when thematerial of the support member is reused, the adhesive needs to beseparated by filtration or the like. In that regard, a roll coatermechanism that can apply adhesive only on the upper surface of themodeling pattern existing like a protrusion is a suitable applicator.

The bonding method at the time of stacking is not limited to applicationof adhesive. For example, it is also possible to form a cross-sectionalpattern of an object from thermoplastic resin, to bring the pattern intoa molten state by heating at the time of stacking, and to stack thepattern without using adhesive.

The process of stacking is the same as that of the first embodiment.After the transfer is completed, the intermediate transfer member isrewound by a rewinding mechanism 24, and is reused.

The greatest advantageous effect obtained by the present invention isthat, in each layer-like pattern, there is no difference in thicknessbetween the modeling material and the material of the support member,and very high thickness accuracy can be reproduced. An objectmanufactured by this does not have any distortion and is highlyaccurate.

In the above first and second embodiments, the intermediate transfermember 1 serves as a restricting member that restricts the uppersurfaces of the support member 6 and the modeling pattern when expandingthe support member 6. However, a restricting member separate from theintermediate transfer member 1 may be used. For example, in FIGS. 6A to6F, after the ink pattern 4 is transferred to the transfer surface 501by the intermediate transfer member 1 and the modeling pattern 502 isformed, the intermediate transfer member 1 may be removed, and arestricting member separate from the intermediate transfer member 1 maybe brought into contact with the upper surface of the modeling pattern502. After that, the supporting material 5 may be injected, and asupport may be formed while restricting the upper surface of the supportmember 6 with the restricting member so that the upper surface of thesupport member 6 is coplanar with the upper surface 501 of the modelingpattern.

FIG. 3 includes sectional views schematically showing steps of each ofan example of the manufacturing method of a structure according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention and a manufacturing method ofa structure of a comparative embodiment, and illustrates the effect ofthe thickness accuracy of the layer-like patterns on the object. In FIG.3, (a1) to (f1) show a comparative embodiment, and (a2) to (e2) show astacking method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 (a1) shows a state where a layer-like modeling pattern 302 isformed on a base material 301.

Next, a support member 303 is disposed around the modeling pattern 302.This state is shown in FIG. 3 (b1). Next, the support member hardens anda volume change is thereby caused. The volume change is expansion orcontraction depending on the material. In general, contraction oftenoccurs, and contraction is shown in the explanatory diagrams. At thistime, the surface is open, and owing to the difference in contractionratio between the materials of the modeling pattern 302 and the supportmember 303, as shown in FIG. 3 (c1), the upper surface of the modelingpattern 302 differs from the upper surface of the support member 303 inthe height from the base material 301.

Next, transfer is performed as shown in FIG. 3 (d1). The modelingpattern 302 is transferred together with the support member 303 from thebase material 301 to another base material 304.

By repeating the above-described process, a stacked object is formed.Since the thickness of each layer varies greatly from part to part, thelayers 302 of modeling patterns are not aligned as desired as shown inFIG. 3 (e2), and are stacked in a distorted state as shown in FIG. 3(f1).

On the other hand, the embodiment of the present invention is asfollows. A modeling pattern 202 is formed on a board member 201 (a2).Next, a board member 204 is brought into contact with the surface of themodeling pattern 202 on the side opposite to the base material (b2). Thematerial 203 of a support member is injected between the board-likeboard member 201 and the base material 204 (c2). The material of asupport member is hardened (d2). The board member 201 functions as arestricting member that restricts the upper surfaces of the layer 202 ofthe modeling pattern and the layer 203 of the support member. Therefore,the surfaces of the layer of the support member and the layer of themodeling pattern can be formed at the same height and flat, andtherefore a structure that does not have any distortion is manufacturedas shown in FIG. 3 (e2).

FIG. 4 shows an example of a control system of the apparatus formodeling a three-dimensional object of FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the apparatusfor modeling a three-dimensional object as a structure manufacturingapparatus, the whole of which is denoted by reference numeral 100, a CPU101 is a main control unit of the entire system and controls eachsections. A memory 102 includes a ROM storing a basic program of the CPU101, and a RAM used for storing object data 104 taken in through aninterface 103 and as a work area for data processing. Upon receiving amodeling start signal, the CPU 101 starts the processing of convertingthe object data into slice data output according to set conditions, andperforms communication for checking the states of the conveyancemechanism 2, inkjet 3, raising and lowering mechanism 9, support fillingmechanism 10, and cleaner 12. If modeling can be started, the conveyancemechanism 2 and the raising and lowering mechanism 9 move topredetermined positions based on the information of the positiondetection 105, an ejection signal is sent to the inkjet 3, and modelingstarts. When the stacking of layers to be a three-dimensional object iscompleted, communication for checking the state of the removingmechanism 15 is performed in order to remove the support member, andremoval is started.

Third Embodiment

FIGS. 7A to 7E are schematic sectional views showing steps of amanufacturing method of an object according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention viewed at the position of a cross-section. Thecross-sections are taken at the same position as FIGS. 5A to 5F and 6Ato 6F.

In this embodiment, after the stacking for forming a structure iscompleted, stacking of the next structure is performed without removingthe support member.

FIG. 7A shows the same state as the state shown in FIG. 6F. Over themodeling table 8 in the modeling container 7, modeling patterns 4supported by a support member 6 are stacked. In this embodiment, at thisstage, the stacking of modeling patterns 4 forming a structure iscompleted.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, the intermediate transfer member 1 and themodeling unit are moved closer to each other, and a material 5 ofsupport member is injected so as to fill the space between the stackedmodeling patterns 4 and the intermediate transfer member 1.

The intermediate transfer member 1 is peeled, and as shown in FIG. 7C,the layer of the modeling pattern 4 is buried in the support member 6.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7D, a layer of a modeling pattern 1004 for makinga new structure is provided on the surface exposed by peeling theintermediate transfer member 1. The next modeling pattern 1004 isstacked thereon.

After that, the expansion of the modeling pattern 1004 and the expansionof the support material 6 are performed sequentially as shown in FIG.7E. After that, the support member 6 is removed by dissolving or thelike. Thus, two separate structures formed by stacking modeling patterns4 and 1004 can be obtained.

EXAMPLE 1

An example of the present invention will be described below.

The data of an object were preliminarily converted into slice data witha given interlayer spacing. In Example 1, slice data with a spacing of25 micrometers was used.

As an intermediate transfer member 1, a belt made by forming a layer offluoro-rubber (DAI-EL T530 manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) 150micrometers in thickness on a PET film 50 micrometers in thickness wasused.

A pattern of UV ink was applied on the intermediate transfer member 1using an inkjet unit according to the first layer slice data of theobject.

When only colored inks are used, the amount of ink applied cannot beequalized. Therefore, the ink volume was adjusted to a constant valueusing clear ink.

-   Ink Application Conditions-   Liquid droplet size=30 pl-   Droplet application interval=600 dpi-   Amount of ink applied per address=150 pl-   Ink Prescription-   Pigment: 1 part-   Black: carbon black-   Cyan: pigment blue 15-   Magenta: pigment red 7-   Yellow: pigment yellow 74-   White: titanium oxide-   Clear: microparticulate silica-   Styrene-acrylic acid-copolymer of acrylic acid and ethyl: 10-   parts (acid value: 180, average molecular weight: 4000)-   Light curing resin: 20 parts-   (Water-Soluble Trifunctional Acrylate)-   Photoinitiator: 2 parts-   (Water-Soluble Acylphosphine)-   Diethylene glycol: 6 parts-   Ethylene glycol: 3 parts-   Surface active agent: 1 part (Acetylenol EH manufactured by Kawaken    Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.)-   Ion-Exchanged Water: The Rest-   The intermediate transfer member is transparent, and can receive    hardening light emitted by a UV lamp disposed inside, from the    reverse side of the belt.

At the time of patterning, ink is irradiated relatively strongly inorder to prevent color mixture and excessive spread of ink. However, theamount of light was adjusted so that flowability was kept untilstacking.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, while the ink pattern 4 applied on thebelt-like intermediate transfer member 1 is conveyed by the intermediatetransfer member 1, water in the ink is evaporated.

The stacking process will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5Ato 5F. FIGS. 5A to 5F are schematic sectional views for explaining apart of the manufacturing process in the manufacturing apparatus of astructure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and showthe same section as FIG. 1A.

In the stacking unit, before receiving the modeling pattern 4, a supportmember was preliminarily placed on the modeling table 8 (FIG. 5A). Thus,it became easier to take out the object after the stacking is completed,and the gap between the intermediate transfer member 1 and the transfersurface was able to be made tidy.

The upper end of the modeling container 7 was brought into contact witha part where there is no modeling pattern 4 of ink, of the surface ofthe intermediate transfer member 1 on which the ink pattern 4 isprovided (FIG. 5B). At this stage, the modeling pattern 4 on theintermediate transfer member 1 was a semisolid having a shape close to ahemisphere, the top thereof came into contact with the support member onthe modeling table, and the modeling pattern 4 was compressed to 25micrometers while being planarized. In this state, irradiated withlight, and sandwiched between the intermediate transfer member 1 and thesolidified support material 6, a slice pattern of the modeling pattern 4was made.

With the modeling table 8 lowered by one layer thickness, the spacebetween the intermediate transfer member and the solidified supportmaterial was filled with a support material heated to about 60 degreesCelsius and melted (Paraffin wax 115 degrees Fahrenheit: commerciallyavailable). In order to fill every corner, temperature was controlled bya heater (not shown) on the reverse side of the intermediate transfermember 1, and the flowability of the material 5 of support member wasmaintained. At this time, a part of the pre-existing support membermelts. However, since the modeling pattern 4 is held by the intermediatetransfer member 1, displacement does not occur.

After the filling of support material was completed, air was blown tocool, the material 5 of support member was solidified, and the support 6was expanded (FIG. 5D).

After that, the stacking unit was lowered and the intermediate transfermember 1 was peeled and thereby removed from the unit (FIG. 5E).

After that, the whole stacking unit was lowered, and the intermediatetransfer member 1 was peeled from the ink pattern 4 (FIG. 5E). Afterthat, the modeling table 8 was lowered (FIG. 5F).

After the ink pattern is transferred, the surface of the intermediatetransfer member is cleaned by a cleaner, and the intermediate transfermember is used repeatedly.

This was repeated. After all of the layers of modeling patterns werestacked, the temperature was raised to 60 degrees Celsius, the supportmaterial melted, and a colored structure was able to be taken out.

In the finished structure, peeling between layers was not observed.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

1. A manufacturing apparatus comprising: a transfer member configured to move from one side to another side being a back side of the one side; a material layer providing unit disposed at a front side of the transfer member and configured to provide a layer to be formed into structure on a surface of the front side of the transfer member; a table disposed at the back side and configured to support thereon an in-process structure, which is a structure that is in a process of formation; a positioning unit configured to position the table and the transfer member relative to each other to transfer the layer to the in-process structure; and an energy providing unit configured to provide energy to the layer on the another side of the transfer member for hardening the layer on the another side of the transfer member from a back surface of the transfer member at the another side via the transfer member.
 2. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material layer providing unit comprises an ink jet head for ejecting ink.
 3. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer member is belt shaped.
 4. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer member is connected from the one side to the another side.
 5. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the layer is hardened in response to receiving energy.
 6. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the hardening unit provides UV ray to the layer.
 7. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy providing unit provides energy to the layer on the another side of the transfer member being in contact with the in-process structure by the positioning unit.
 8. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the layer is hardened in response to receiving energy, and the manufacturing apparatus further comprises a hardening unit provided between the one side of the transfer member and the another side of the transfer member.
 9. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a support member forming unit configured to form a support member by injecting a support material into a peripheral space of the transferred layer. 